Corset



(No Model.)

M. r. LINQUIST.

CORSET.

Patented July 3; 1883.

XXXXXXXXXXX @XXXXXXXXXXX UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IWIAURICE F. LINQUIST, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

,ooRsEIz SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 280,638, dated July 3, 1883.

Application filed March 30,1883. (No model.)

, To all whom it may concern:

side.

Be it known that I, MAURICE F. LINQUIsT, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful improvement in Corsets; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part -of this speeiication, and represent, in-

Figure l, a rear view of the corset; Fig. 2, a rear view of the spinal stay detached; Fig. 3, an end view of the same 5 Fig. 4, a transverse section of the corset through the back-stay; Fig. 5, a perspective view of the shoulder brace or spring detached.

This invention relates to an improvement in corsets, the object being-to construct the corset so as to serve'as aspinal and shoulder supporter; and it consists in the construction'as hereinafter described, and Inore particularly recited in the claims.

The back-stay is composed of two steel or other suitable springs, a a, (the stay shown detached in Fig. 2,) arranged substantially parallel with each other and distant from each other so as to lie comfortably at each side of the spinesay about one inch apart. These springs are connected by transverse metal connections b, more or less in number, the said connections bent outward, as seen in Fig. 3, so as to give a clear recess, d, between the springs a c for theegspine. This stay is arranged inthe corset in a close back. The back may be little wider than the stays and laced to the adjacent edges of the corset; or it maybe introduced into the corset, as shown in Fig. l, and the lacing-openings made at the Applied to the person, the springs a a stand one each side the spinal column, held in rigid position by the cross-connections b. The springs a a are curved vertically, corresponding to the natural curve of the back; but

the adjacent sides of the4 two springs a a', be-

ing straight, serve not only to support the back, but also to support the spinal'column in a straight vertical position, and thereby prevent or relieve curvature of the spine.

In inclosing the back or spinal springs, the fabric of that portion of the back which forms the outer and inner thickness, e j', ofthe corset (see Fig. 4) 'should be such that the inner thickness may fall into the space between the two springs a a, as seen in Fig. 4,' so as to permit the spinal column to sink into that recess, in order that it may have the support of the springs from right to left to insure the retention or support of the spine in the proper vertical position.

The cut of the corset is immaterial to this invention-may be such as shown,or any other known or suitable cut-the essential feature of this part of my invention being the back-stay composed of two springs, c a, arranged substantially parallel to each other, and with the outwardly curved transverse cross connections b.

As a support for the shoulders, I introduce a steel (or other material) spring, A. (Seen detached in Fig. 5.) This spring is curved at its upper end to pass over the shoulder, and provided at its front end with a cushion, h, which will rest against the body of the person. The width of the spring is sufiicient to lie easily upon the shoulder. At the back, the spring extends down in a pocket in the corset, and about the waist-line is turned outward, as at z', forming a ledge-.like projection, upon which the skirts of the wearer will rest, so that the support of the skirts will come. entirely upon the shoulder. This spring readily yields to the movement of the person, yet tends to hold the shoulders up and backward in their proper position, and will retain its place upon the shoulder better than the usual flexible strap,

and the support of the shoulder-brace is due' to theelasticity of the spring and not to the drawing-strain of a strap around the shoulder. This shoulder-brace spring may be employed in a corset independent ofthe back or spinal stay, and the spinal stay Inay be employed without this peculiar sh oulder-sprin g. I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the combination in a corset of IOO tion u spinal stay composed of two vertical springs7 La a, united by t misverse connections b, and so as to forni u recess upon the inside of the corset between the snid springs7 substantially as described.

3. A corset having in the central back-seetion :L spinal stay composed of two vertical springs7 a a, united by transif'erse connections I), :1nd so as to forni :t recess upon the inside of the corset between the said springs7 with steel shoulder-springs A7 introduced in pockets at the buck oi' the corset7 the upper end carried 

